A History of Burning

In Janika Oza’s epic historical novel, A History of Burning, the story unfolds across continents and generations, beginning in 1898 with Pirbhai, a teenage boy forced into labor for the British on the East African Railway. An act of survival haunts him and reverberates through his family, as his descendants navigate the complexities of colonialism, independence, and identity in Uganda during a turbulent era. As they face the challenges brought on by Idi Amin’s regime in 1972, a letter ignites their journey of self-discovery and familial bonds, ultimately exploring themes of complicity, resistance, and the enduring quest for home.